Shoulder mounted head shade

ABSTRACT

A head shade comprises a shade fabric stretched over a collapsible set of bow frames. These all join externally at bow pivots on the left and right sides that are at ear height. The shade and bows can all be folded back out of the way. Interior to each bow pivot, loudspeakers are included that allow the user to listen to music and other audio. The bow pivots are fastened to the tops of left and right stems. Such stems are attached by adjustable hinges to a shoulder yoke and body straps. The straps are anchored to a belt worn around the waist of the user to stabilize the stems and bow pivots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to head shades, and more particularly to umbrella-like shades that are supported above a user's head by shoulder supported frame and that includes speakers.

2. Description of Related Art

Umbrellas are used for protection from the sun and rain. Nettings are used over the head and body to protect against biting insects. The typical umbrella has a stem that must be held, and so the user's hands are not completely free. Hats and helmets can be worn too, but in the hot sun such can get hot because of a lack of ventilation underneath.

In 1866, J. Henry Jennings was issued U.S. Pat. No. 53,149, which described a mosquito netting covering a flexible bow frame and worn over the user's head like a large closed hood.

A shoulder-mounted head sunshade was described by B. Washington in U.S. Pat. No. 1,217,542, issued in 1917. Such also comprised a bow frame covered with fabric that could be folded up when not in use. A waist belt helped stabilize two side braces.

H. T. Pistole describes a similar head covering in U.S. Pat. No. 1,803,538, issued in 1929. The benefit of use of such was the free circulation of air around the head and the unencumbered movement of the user's body and limbs.

An umbrella hat is described by C. C. Riordon in U.S. Pat. No. 2,227,554, issued in 1941. The shade resembles a typical umbrella and it is supported by a collapsible frame and hat band.

A body-attached umbrella is described by U. Thorton in 1948 in U.S. Pat. No. 2,434,526. A harness that belts over the shoulders and around the user's chest carries four supports that hold the umbrella aloft over the user's head.

A fan folding portable shelter arrangement is described by Jack S. Wear'n in U.S. Pat. No. 3,190,300, issued in 1963. A number of shade-fabric supporting rib bows are gathered at two sides at respective pivot points. These allow the shade to be folded back out of the way or for storage.

An attachable portable umbrella is shown mounted to the user's shoulders in U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,457, issued in 1980 to Meyer Friedman. Guy wires are strung to keep the umbrella in the proper position over the head on two shoulder-attached struts.

A large beach blanket size fan-folding head shade is described by Kyle K. Kondo in U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,288, issued in 1992. It protects its users from the sun on the beach while they are laying down.

A personal umbrella support is described by Olman Dompe in U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,837, issued in 1993. A backpack type unit with shoulder straps supports an otherwise ordinary umbrella from behind and over the user's head.

A head protection device described as an automatic safety helmet uses spring loaded bows on a pair of pivots that will snap out over a user's head to protect it. U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,590, issued in 1999 to Eugen Fleisch. A triggering mechanism allows the head protecting covering to be kept folded back during normal use.

A retractable canopy/hood held erect by a backpack frame is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,264, issued in 2000. Solar panels are included to drive ventilation fans. An atomizer for a vaporized mist can be added to afford additional cooling of the user's head behind a mosquito netting.

A wide belt and thin shoulder straps for a traditional umbrella are described by Ronnie Hadley in U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,521, issued in 2003.

What is needed is a head shade that is light weight, adjustable, and equipped to accommodate modern personal electronic devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, a head shade embodiment of the present invention comprises a shade fabric stretched over a collapsible set of bow frames. These all join externally at bow pivots on the left and right sides that are at ear height. The shade and bows can all be folded back out of the way. Interior to each bow pivot, loudspeakers are included that allow the user to listen to music and other audio. The bow pivots are fastened to the tops of left and right stems. Such stems are attached by adjustable hinges to a shoulder yoke and body straps. The straps are anchored to a belt worn around the waist of the user to stabilize the stems and bow pivots.

An advantage of the present invention is a head shade is provided that does not touch a user's head while being used.

Another advantage of the present invention is a head shade is provided that places speakers that not touch a user's head or ears while being used.

A further advantage of the present invention is a head shade is provided that is adjustable to a wide range of user body types.

A still further advantage of the present invention is a head shade is provided that is light weight.

The above and still further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C are front, side, and rear perspective view diagrams of a user wearing a head shade embodiment of the present invention in its up position;

FIGS. 2A-2C are front, side, and rear perspective view diagrams of a user wearing a head shade embodiment of the present invention in its folded-back position;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side and edge view diagrams of the left one of the two stem and pivot assemblies of the head shade embodiment of the present invention in FIGS. 1A-1 and 2A-2C;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a head shade embodiment of the present invention with a face netting; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a carrying pouch for the head shades of FIGS. 1A-1C, 2A-2C, 3A-3B, and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A-1C, and 2A-2C, illustrate a head shade embodiment of the present invention, referred to herein by the general reference numeral 100. The head shade 100 comprises a fabric sun shading 102 that is stretched over lateral support bows 104-110. A face screen 112 is shown in FIG. 1B folded up to the left side out of the way. A pair of right and left stems 114, 115, each have an upper bow pivot 116, 117, that allow the bows 104-110 to be raised as in FIG. 1A-1C, and folded back as in FIGS. 2A-2C. A pair of right and left lower adjustable pivots 118, 119, permit the stems to be canted forward or back on the user's shoulders. A shoulder frame comprises a right shoulder brace 120, a back brace 121, and a left shoulder brace 122. These are held snug on top of the user's shoulders by right and left front straps 124, 125. These straps clip on to a waist belt 126. A radio/CD player 128 is attached to the belt 126 and is connected to speaker wires 130, 131. Speakers, or headphones, are placed in the interior sides of upper bow pivots 116, 117, close to the user's ears to play music or other audio programs. A pair of right and left rear straps 132, 133, further secure the shoulder frame to the waist belt 126.

A video projector 150 could also be included in the shoulder frame or pivots to project a video image on the underside of fabric shading 102 hanging over the front of the user's eyes. For example, a so-called “heads up display.” The area between bows 104 and 105 would be particularly good.

FIGS. 3A-3B provide more detail for the pivots, stems, and shoulder frame represented in FIGS. 1A-1C, and 2A-2C. A pivot-stem assembly 300 comprises a stem 302 having bar-spring lock 304 and an adjustable shoulder pivot 306. Such allows the position of the upper pivot and thus the fabric shading to be adjusted forward and aft to suit the user's preferences. An interior speaker 308 is connected to a wire 310 that runs down to a radio/CD player. The speaker is operated within a few inches of the user's ears, but does not need to contact the ears. A left shoulder brace 312 is connected to left front and rear straps 314, 316. A back brace 318 connects left and right shoulder braces together. A spring-loaded thumb lock 320 locks the position of a rotating pivot base 322. A set of shade bows 324-330 are hinged to pivot 304. Pivot base 322 is rotated, after unlocking, together with shade bows 324-330 that are folded back when not in use, e.g., as in FIGS. 2A-2C.

FIG. 4 represents a head shade 400 similar to those shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, 2A-2C, and 3A-3B. The head shade 400 comprises a fabric shading 402 fitted over a collapsible frame 404. These are held aloft on a user's shoulders by a shoulder frame 406. A face netting 408 is draped down one or the other sides of the user's face, e.g., to shield against sunlight coming from that side.

FIG. 5 represents a carrying pouch 502 that can be used to store the head shades shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, 2A-2C, 3A-3B, and 4.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, such is not intended to limit the invention. Modifications and changes will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the invention only be limited by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A head shade, comprising: a fabric shading providing for sun protection of a user; a collapsible bow frame providing support for the fabric shading; a shoulder frame for wear by a user and providing for support of the collapsible bow frame and fabric shading above said user's head on a pair of angled stems; a pair of upper pivots fastened to the shoulder frame stems and each respectively providing an articulated joint at both sides of the collapsible bow frame; and a pair of lower pivots fastened to the shoulder frame and stems, and together providing an adjustment of the relative fore and aft position of the bow frame relative to said user's head.
 2. The head shade of claim 1, further comprising: a network of straps and a belt included with the shoulder frame for securing the whole to said user.
 3. The head shade of claim 1, further comprising: a personal electronics device attached for use by said user.
 4. The head shade of claim 1, further comprising: at least one speaker attached to the shoulder frame and stems for listening to audio programs by said user.
 5. The head shade of claim 1, further comprising: a video projector attached to the shoulder frame and stems for viewing on the underside of the fabric shading of video programs by said user.
 6. The head shade of claim 1, wherein: the shoulder frame includes left and right shoulder braces and an interconnecting back brace.
 7. The head shade of claim 1, further comprising: a face shade for draping to one side of a user's face from the underside of the fabric shading.
 8. The head shade of claim 1, further comprising: a carrying pouch in which all the other components may be stored when the bow frame is collapsed. 